Brent Knoll Riding Club

Newsletter February 2008

Hello and Welcome to the first newsletter of 2008, sorry we (or even me!) are a bit slow getting this out, just don't know where the time has gone. This will be the last for those who have not rejoined, I'm posting the rest of the Membership cards today, (ran out of cards) to Maggie, Ken ,Lisa F, Lyn Wood, Pippa D, Sue F & Steph, Lyn & Andy P, Bryony, Kath Gregory, Caroline Mc. Claire N, so anyone not on this list or already been sent a card, please send me your membership renewal.

Having gone through the membership forms, almost all prefer email, so I think this year we may try to send out email as and when rather than wait to put out a newsletter with everything in, I have 2 for snail mail, so they will get continue to get updates.

We have been busy putting together a schedule for the year and hope there will be plenty for all.

We are planning a variety of lessons, we presume the majority of members are free evenings and weekends for lessons. The nights are getting lighter so we will be able to book evenings soon.

We have just run the Area 12 Indoor Novice SJ Teams Championship and Area Qualifiers, with the help of Blackdown Mendip RC at The Hand EC, Sat 16th Feb. Lauras report is attached and I have to say it was a very long day, the juniors had started at 9am and seniors finished about 7pm,! It was the first time we had run the juniors as well, but the Hand proved very popular with a total of 38 teams.Many Thanks to all those who gave up time to help, we really can't manage to run it without you and I hope you were all fed, watered and thanked on the day. Taunton won, we were unable to field a team on the day as we were a 3 man team anyway and when Carar Tyer broke her leg Thursday before we were suddenly doing pairs!, We wish her a speedy recovery as I know she's bored already, but daytime TV is keeping her company! Full results on the area web site.

The annual Quiz & Supper evening at my house had fewer numbers this year as the late date clashed with quiz regulars going and coming back from skiing holidays and away with children and a couple of last minute emergencies keeping people away. It was very nice to have only a dozen to cater for and be able to find a chair for me to sit on. The Horsey quiz, which boasted a £10 voucher for Pophams, kindly donated by them, was won by Fran Woods & Sue Watts, runners up Gwen Lloyd & Celia Lewis had early Easter Eggs. The General Knowledge quiz was won by Pat & John Drinkwater who went home happy with a lovely box of chocolates each and runners up were Kim Hill & Cheryl Green who had boxes of Malteasers to keep them company on the way home. Food was my usual chilli and lots of chocolate pud and cream. Many Thanks to all those who came and I hope you enjoyed the evening.

March, we are doing a Easter Ride at Burrington, Sat 15th and we are hoping for a talk night with supper in Hutton at the Village Hall, still waiting to confirm speakers, but hopefully Tuesday 18th. We hope to have a Vet and ?? someone from NAF products.

April is our Spring Showing Show with Dressage. Last year was very busy so this year as the arenas are all finished and it's much more expensive to hire, we hope to run In hand classes indoors in 2 arenas, dressage outdoors until about 2pm and then the ridden classes will be in both out and indoor arenas to keep it all moving. Schedules are being done at the moment, any offer for stewards etc arte most welcome, a couple of hours is a great help and we can't manage without you. Please let me know what time you can do a stint, doing what!

There is a programme for 2008, anything you think we have missed or you would like adding please get in touch with one of the committee.

Hilary